Former pastor’s sex charges dismissed

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 08:58 PM.

For the second time, a judge has found a former Kings Mountain pastor and Gardner-Webb University professor not guilty of allegations he tried to solicit sex from an undercover police officer.

On Friday, a Mecklenburg County District Court Judge found Dr. Clinton Alexander Feemster not guilty in connection with an encounter with an undercover officer at a Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Overlook in October 2012.

The officer testified in court that Feemster pulled up next to his car about 3 p.m. Oct. 26, the two exchanged glances and some of them were suggestive.

The officer testified he was the one who suggested a sex act, and Feemster went along with it. The officer said Feemster seemed hesitant and did not want to get into his car at first.

He said Feemster suggested the two leave the overlook because it was too public, and they finally agreed to leave and go to another parking lot. But he said Feemster suddenly turned and drove back to Gaston County, where officers later arrested him and charged him with soliciting a crime against nature.

Feemster's attorney argued in court that the undercover officer -- who was working his first case -- pushed the legal envelope in making the arrest.

"He pushed it all the way off the table ... in my opinion," said attorney Mary Rogers.

For the second time, a judge has found a former Kings Mountain pastor and Gardner-Webb University professor not guilty of allegations he tried to solicit sex from an undercover police officer.

On Friday, a Mecklenburg County District Court Judge found Dr. Clinton Alexander Feemster not guilty in connection with an encounter with an undercover officer at a Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Overlook in October 2012.

The officer testified in court that Feemster pulled up next to his car about 3 p.m. Oct. 26, the two exchanged glances and some of them were suggestive.

The officer testified he was the one who suggested a sex act, and Feemster went along with it. The officer said Feemster seemed hesitant and did not want to get into his car at first.

He said Feemster suggested the two leave the overlook because it was too public, and they finally agreed to leave and go to another parking lot. But he said Feemster suddenly turned and drove back to Gaston County, where officers later arrested him and charged him with soliciting a crime against nature.

Feemster's attorney argued in court that the undercover officer -- who was working his first case -- pushed the legal envelope in making the arrest.

"He pushed it all the way off the table ... in my opinion," said attorney Mary Rogers.

Rogers also represented Feemster the first time a judge found him not guilty of similar charges.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said Feemster asked an officer for oral sex in February 2011. In July 2011, a judge found Feemster not guilty of soliciting sex. Supporters rallied around the former pastor when he was accused.

This time, Rogers said Feemster did not proposition the officer at all.

"It seems to me that the only one soliciting anything was the undercover officer -- my client didn't ask for anything," Rogers said.

Feemster, who lives in Gastonia, did not comment after the verdict, but Rogers said his client was happy with the judge's decision.

The undercover officer who worked the case was not available for comment, but a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police spokesman said the department has no plans to stop undercover patrols at the airport overlook.

Feemster was the pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Kings Mountain and director of the Pittman Center for Congregational Enrichment at Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs.

The first time Feemster was charged with solicitation in 2011, the church and university both placed him on leave.

He had worked at Gardner Webb since 2004, but he resigned shortly after the allegations surfaced. Feemster retired from Mount Zion Baptist Church in August 2011. He’d been at the church for about 20 years.

Halifax Media Group and Star news partner WSOC-TV contributed to this report.